Bad Axe Throwing Puts a Spin on a Stereotypical Canadian Sport

While the idea of hurling steel hatchets at a plank of wood may sound like something only a lumberjack would do, Bad Axe Throwing has managed to turn the activity into a recreational sport that anyone can enjoy. Add some energetic music, a group of good friends and maybe a bit of liquor into the mix and you have a recipe for the ultimate night out.

Bad Axe Throwing is a Burlington-based company founded by Mario Zelaya. While he's not a real lumberjacks, he fell in love with the high-octane alternative to darts after creating a makeshift course of his own. This led him on a mission to share his passion for axe throwing with as many people as possible.

At each of its 11 locations, Bad Axe Throwing invites customers to engage in quasi-medieval competitions that involve hurling steel hatchets at planks of wood painted with brightly colored targets. Points are awarded based on where the axes land, turning the game into a social competition that allows friend and families to go head-to-head in adrenaline-fueled duels.

For those who want to perfect their axe-throwing skills, Bad Axe Throwing is also launching a league that will run for seven weeks at a time. Each week, players will have their competitive throws tallied and recorded. During the last week, the players with the highest scores will compete in the Championship Tournament to determine the Axe Throwing League Champion.

With locations across Canada and even in the US, Bad Axe Throwing demonstrates that a couple hours of target practice can be far more fun – and cathartic – than spending another night out at the bar.